Soedjarwoto Soemarsono was an iconic Indonesian musician who released albums under the stage name Gombloh. He was born in Jombang, East Java, on July 14, 1948, and became a street performer after moving to Bali. After briefly performing in the symphonic rock band Lemon Tree's Anno '69 during the 1970s, he launched his solo career with 1979's Kebyar-Kebyar, whose title track would later be hailed by Rolling Stone Indonesia as one of the best Indonesian compositions of all time. Following the release of 1982's Gombloh Berita Cuaca, he partnered with Nirwana Records and released Gila in 1983, followed one year later by 1/2 Gila (Half Crazy). Despite receiving critical acclaim for his patriotic songwriting, Gombloh lacked a genuine hit until the mid-1980s, when "Kugadaikan Cinta" — a song from the 1986 album Apel — became a mainstream success in his homeland. Unfortunately, Gombloh's years of heavy smoking had begun to take a toll on his health, and he only recorded one more album before passing away. One year later releasing 1987's Apa Itu Tidak Edan, he succumbed to lung disease in Surabaya on January 9, 1988, dying at 39 years old.
